Infertility

Exercise and IVF

So we are on day 6 of Follistim.   My doctor called  today with the blood work and they want me to lower the dosage tonight and return tomorrow am.  No problem!

I feel fine.....actually I feel normal.  They say its still early in the cycle and that I will take that back soon.  LOL

My issue is to exercise or to not exercise...... I am an exerciser!  I have been working out 5-6 days a week for the past 10+ years.   My doc and both nurses have said that I can continue to exercise -lowering my intensity-until retrieval.   So this week I did an arms/shoulders workout for 20 mins, Tuesday I walked on the treadmill for 45 mins. and today I did push up's and some back exercises for about 15 mins.  Even though the doctor said I can continue spinning I just don't see how that can be done moderately.  So my workouts are short and not really intense but still make me feel good.   Everything I read---says do not exercise other than walking.......I know I just have to listen to my doctor and my body.  I have been eating more out of stress so keeping some form of exercise actually relaxes me.   I think I feel guilty.  

Any thoughts ?  

Re: Exercise and IVF

  • I don't know the answer to your question but was about to post the same thing about IUI.  I stopped excerising other then walking when I started ttc over a year ago and I am turning into a blob.  I agree it makes me feel relaxed and releases stress.  A friend just joined the gym around the corner and wants me to join as well.  Am I allowed to excerise moderatly while doing IUI's?     **Don't mean to steal post, just hoping to get two related questions answered at once** 
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  • Let me start out by saying that I am an exerciser too so I totally feel your pain. Going to the gym is also my way of letting go of stress. However, I was told that once I start stims I shouldn't do anything other than walking and light bike riding. I usually do heavy cardio (running), lift weights, do push ups, do lunges/squats, etc. Once I start stims I cut all of that out. I stick to long walks and that's it. When I asked about light weight workouts, my nurse told me not to chance it.

    The danger is that if you bounce around you could twist an ovary. This would be really, really bad and result in your loss of the ovary. To me, it's just not worth the risk. 

    If it was me, I definitely wouldn't spin while stimming. It's just not worth the risk. 

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  • I am not spinning...I agree too intense regardless of what the doc says.  I am going to continue walking on the treadmill and outside.  I may continue with light weights---bicep curls, shoulder extensions etc...slowly....as long as I feel okay.  

     

     

  • I can't answer for IVF as I haven't been there but I think Dragonfly gave excellent advice!

    As far as IUI my RE says exercise is fine. My RE says normal activity on the day of the procedure. You should have way less follies than those doing IVF so I don't think the ovaries are a concern. I don't usually cut back during IUI cycles and I exercise heavily. I have and haven't and it hasn't made a difference. =(

    Good luck!

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  • i agree with dragonfly...not worth the risks.

    FOr my IVF...I really let up early on and for FET def. after transfer.

    good luck this cycle.

  • I have been a 5 to 6 day a week runner/lifter/boxer/hot yogi for years.  For IVF I walk on a 15% incline for an hour and stick to light weight upper body workouts.  When I started stimming I was walking at a 3.7 pace, very conservative for me (I usually run at 7.6 and incline walk at 4.5).  As the cycle has gone on I have become increasingly uncomfortable and now am at a 3.0 pace. Like Dragonfly said, it is not worth losing an ovary.
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  • I did spinning 3x a week through IVF #1 as well as the stairmaster, bikram, pilates and running. I got KU and it was fine.

    This IVF I was too tired to keep up at that pace so I only did the stairmaster and ran. I am KU again.

    If exercise makes you feel good/normal then keep exercising. But listen to your body. When I'm running sometimes I can tell I'm pushing too hard and I pull back. Better safe than sorry. For me it would be weird to not work out though, KWIM?

  • Thank you guys so much for the responses.  Makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one thinking about these things.

    I am going to continue walking on a small incline but not too fast and continue with the light weights as long as I am feeling good.  I have cut back the intensity.  Def. not worth the risk to push too hard.

    Off to the doctor's now.

     

     

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